₦airaland Forum

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The burial ceremony of the late former Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, will commence on March 24 and end on March 26, a family source said on Tuesday.

The Nation gathered that Alamieyeseigha would have been buried on November 16 last year, the day he would have marked his 63 birthday.

But it was reportedly put off because of preparations for the state governorship election and lack of agreement between the state government and the deceased’s family.

The silence over his burial had led to speculations especially outside the Niger Delta region that Alamieyeseigha’s death might have been faked to stop his extradition to Britain on corruption charges.

But Major Graham Naingba (rtd), the first cousin of the deceased and Traditional Ruler of Amassoma, Alamieyeseigha’s community in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state, said the death was not faked.



Graham, who spoke on Tuesday when our correspondent visited his palace in Amassoma, said it was an abomination in Ogboin community, comprising Amassoma, Amatolu and Otuan, for anybody to fake his death.

Naingba noted that though the chiefs in the community were yet to see the remains of the late former governor, some members of the family were present when he died.

He said: “Alamieyeseigha is truly dead. I have heard people who claimed that he faked his death. It is not true. In Ogboin community, we don’t fake our death.

“If anybody claims that he is dead and he eventually comes back, the person cannot live for more than three months. It is our tradition. If you fake your death, you are gone because you cannot live again.

“Even if the whole world says he is not dead, I the traditional ruler of this community will tell you that he is dead.”

Have you ever imagined a scenario where pupils of primary schools pay teachers’ salary? That is the situation in a yet-to-be-approved Government Primary School in Ijoko, Ogun State. It is usually interesting to hear government officials say that education is free in Nigeria, especially at the primary level and the most important section as it is. How true is this saying?

For several reasons ranging from Community Development Association’s (CDA) inability to further maintain facilities (rented building and provision of Chairs and textbooks in some cases) and to manage both teachers’ and pupils’ needs, to their inability to erect a structure suitable for government approval, the school has changed locations for about 4 times.

What now poses as St. Saviour Primary School Olayemi Annex, Oluke Tuntun, Ijoko, Ogun State, used to be United Community Primary School, established in 2005 by the collective effort of the members of Olorundusin (Fadunsin) CDA, area of Ijoko.

However, the farther the school goes the more or less accessible it became for some pupils, and some hopes to attend primary school were dashed. At Basic (Primary) 6, the pupils are merged with an approved school for placement into Basic 7 (Junior Secondary School 1) at the nearest Government Secondary School.

Government at all levels calls it Free Education but Pupils of St. Saviour Primary School, Olayemi pay N600 while their colleagues in the yet-to-be approved annex pay N1600. This is because at the yet-to-be approved annex, pupils pay N500 for teachers’ salary and N500 for school building. The other N600 supposedly paid to government, is N300 for maintenance and N300 for insurance from the government. What then is free? This is obviously not peculiar to St Saviour; it seems to be the culture in Ogun State.



For new intakes in an unapproved school like St. Saviour Annex, the story is slightly different. They pay N2200. This is the regular levy of N1600 plus N100 for a chair and N500 for government approval of the school. Only God knows how long this payment for approval will last before providence comes their way.

The said N600 supposedly paid to government was per session since its introduction until early this year (2014) when pupils now pay every term, which now amounts to N1800 per academic session in an approved school and N4800 for the yet-to-be approved school pupils. Maybe the cost of insuring and maintaining these pupils has increased.

Meanwhile, the curriculum at primary school level is expected to provide a permanent literacy for children from ages 3 and 5, including pre-primary. It also extends to the laying of a sound basis for scientific, critical and reflective thinking, inclusive of equipping children with the core life skills to function effectively in the society. It could not have been otherwise, that is what makes it a primary education to human existence anyway.

St. Saviour Oluke annex has tried to do just that for about 9 solid years now. This poor to-be-public primary school, in its unapproved form, has continued to produce primary school graduates, laying a questionable foundation.

After going through hell, the school now has a structure of four classrooms, which is one of government’s requirements to approve a school as fit to offer public primary education. Just as the Basic 6 pupils occupy a classroom that also doubles as office due to the inadequacy of classrooms, the pupils of Basic 1 also occupy a classroom out of the four classrooms available. On the contrary, Basic 2 and 3 share one classroom, while pupils of Basic 4 and 5 also share a classroom. All these are efforts of the children of the masses to acquire education by all means.

It is therefore logical to best describe this kind of education as cheap and not free education.

It is pertinent for government to want to revive public primary education in Nigeria. If it would remain free as claimed, it does not have to be with bad structures and ill administrative systems. Students of public schools also deserve some dignity and sense of satisfaction for attending government schools. It is expected that whatever government does should be at its best. Many Nigerians, home and abroad have lost hope in the governmentet, there are few who believe that government can and would attend to the very needs of the citizenry.

Thus, schools should be often rehabilitated and equipped with up-to-date facilities including white board markers and library, as well as qualified manpower to mention but few. In the light of that, fresh graduates could be employed in classrooms to both reduce unemployment and rescue government schools. Most of these graduates after National Youth Service often end up teaching in private schools with a stipend in the name of salary. These, undoubtedly will help reposition primary education again in Nigeria.

As vital as it is to equip and manage schools, it is even more important for government to build enough schools across every settlement to overcome the risk of overpopulated few available schools and or the risks of pupils travelling more than 3 kilometers to school. More so, one of the supposed reasons why private schools seem to do much better is because teachers do not attend to too many students which may bring about a hostile teachers-students relationship. One teacher to 20-25 students is not bad. Also important is the need for re-orientation of teachers about their relationships with students.

On the whole, rewards and certificates of recognitions or of honours often boost worker’s will-power to do more at work. Teachers should not be left out of such appropriate motivations and reward for extra efforts to improve the learning of pupils. Education is light as knowledge is power. In the voices of the children of Nigerian masses, government should do the needful to boost the ego and will-power of teachers to improve education. No sooner than these and many other reforms are effected, education will be revived in the country again.

Five persons who allegedly impersonated Salisu Buhari, the first son of President Muhammadu Buhari, to dupe a multi-billion dollars Indoroma Eleme Petrochemical Company in Eleme, Rivers State, have been arraigned before a magistrate court in Port Harcourt charged with fraud, forgery and impersonation.

The five suspects accused include Mohammed Salisu, Yahaya Lawal, Maxwell Atago, Ado Garba and Uche Onu who were remanded in prison custody after they were arraigned.

They are facing a six-count charge of advanced fee fraud, forgery and impersonation. The accused persons were alleged to have committed felony with the intention to defraud Indoroma Eleme Petrochemical Company in Port Harcourt but they ran out of luck when they were apprehended by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS.

DSS also accused the five men of creating a letter head paper with the seal of the Presidency.
The presiding Chief magistrate, B.M.F. Jamabo, after taking the plea of the suspects refused them bail and ordered that they be remanded in prison custody and that the matter be referred to the Director of Public Prosecution.
The matter was adjourned till January 21, 2016 for mention.

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Golden Eaglets’ star, Victor Osimhen, has jetted out to England, where he is expected to seal a deal with a top English Premier League side, officials said.

The youngster flew out to England from Dakar, Senegal, after he helped Nigeria win the U-23 African Nations Cup, africanFootball.com reports.

Osimhen, who netted a record-breaking 10 goals as Nigeria won a fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, has been linked with several top European clubs.

By EndyEdeson at Shiloh


Wonderful Miracle *
When Bishop Oyedepo Prayed, Woman with Small Breasts Got Big Breasts Instantly <<<

Do you believe in Miracles? Continue reading to find out how Bishop Oyedepo healed a woman with small breast & Big Breast on Friday night at Shiloh, Canaanland, Ota. Wondering what I have been doing lately? Wonder no more, I took out time to attend SHILOH 2015, a religious funfair organized by Bishop David Oyedepo at Winners Chapel Ota. Shiloh is an annual spiritual gathering of Winners Chapel members, and anyone who wish to attend for healing and miracles. Shiloh usually holds around the month of December every year.
This year’s shiloh started on 8th December, 2015 and ended yesterday morning, December 12, 2015. It was tagged “From Glory to Glory”. It might interest you to know that the event was viewed worldwide. People from different countries came to receive their miracles at the event and I was also there to witness the Power of God in action.
On Friday service, I entered the main church building called “FAITH TABERNACLE” where the Man of God, David Oyedepo was preaching the gospel of Jesus. I saw him live in white suit as he ministered to over 1 million persons seated at the event and over 500 million worldwide.
After preaching, the man of God started performing miracles, he commanded witches and wizards to go out of miracle-seeking member’s bodies. He assured BELIEVERS that their problems will be solved with his thunderous prayers.
Immediately he finished his miracle prayers, he asked members to come and testify. Many members were healed, some were healed of fracture, deafness, blindness and bed-wetting but what I couldn’t figure out up till now was a member who claimed that her TWO BREAST wasn’t equal, One Breast was SMALL while the other Breast was BIG, as soon as Bishop David OYEDEPO prayed, she received her miracle and the two unequal breasts became 2 Big equal breasts. Everyone shouted hallelujah, glory be to God for such an unusual healing. They thanked the God of Bishop Oyedepo for healing her.
#EdesonChurchNews

The Organization of Emerging African States (OEAS), an international governmental organization that promotes self-determination and the end to colonial era boundaries in Africa has outlined reasons why there should a snap referendum for Biafra Republic.

OEAS noted that if there is a secession, all “Property of the federal government within the borders of Biafra will become property of Biafra. The Nigerian government however will retain all national debt. Biafra will then release the Nigerian government from any obligation to pay reparations for crimes committed during the war of independence 1967-1970.”

OEAS noted that as of today the people of Biafra are locked in an epic struggle with the Nigerian federal government, the inevitable result of which will likely be some form of self-determination for Biafra.

The OEAS wants a snap referendum to be held within 90 days with OEAS, UNPO, and UN, EU and AU nonaligned observers supervising the balloting process. Various effected groups and individuals have asked for details which OEAS can now provide.

Why a Snap Referendum?

The people of Biafra have waited almost 50 years to legitimize their choice. There is no need to prolong the process. A lengthy delay will no doubt result in violence and bloodshed as out of the area ruffians and intimidators come into the region to try to unlawfully influence results.

Who will be eligible to vote in the Referendum?

All persons living within the confines of the borders of the former Republic of Biafra as of January 1, 2016 will be eligible to vote. In addition, persons living outside the borders who can demonstrate significant ties to Biafra by family or property may choose to vote as well.

What are the choices?

A. For total independence and the restoration of the Republic of Biafra as a sovereign independent nation.
B. For internal self-rule as an autonomous Biafra republic with its own parliament, currency, police and prime minister but with external affairs and other matters handled by the Nigerian federal government. This would be an arrangement similar to Scotland and the United Kingdom or Greenland and Denmark.
C. For no change.
How many votes are required?

Whatever option above gets a plurality will be the chosen result.

If we choose an independent Biafra, what then?
After an orderly transition period of no more than 180 days, Biafra will again be independent. Those who wish to maintain their Nigerian citizenship may do so but will be under Biafran rule and must affirmatively register themselves as aliens. Likewise, those outside Biafra with ties to Biafra may become Biafran citizens after renouncing Nigerian citizenship.

What about former federal government property?

Property of the federal government within the borders of Biafra will become property of Biafra. The Nigerian government however will retain all national debt. Biafra will then release the Nigerian government from any obligation to pay reparations for crimes committed during the war of independence 1967-1970.

What about the borders?

The borders with Nigeria must be settled by the time of independence in order to avoid disorder and discord. On the other hand, Biafra should not be obligated to follow any agreements between Cameroun and Nigeria, any loss of territory must be subject to a democratic referendum.
Is all this really possible?

We answer emphatically is yes. The people of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea made their choice to leave Ukraine under far more stressful circumstances. The vote was so overwhelmingly in favor that no country has seriously challenged the will of the people.

Finally, what about those criminals who have oppressed Biafrans and committed crimes and atrocities against the people of Biafra?
A Truth and Reconciliation Commission composed of Biafrans and other experts will establish the truth and investigate political and genocidal crimes from 1967 to present. The Committee will have the power to grant clemency and forgiveness but also may make recommendations as to prosecution in the most serious cases of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.